“Recently I made some posts on my Instagram that did not communicate how I feel about a variety of topics,” Hughes said in his video apology on Instagram. “What I intended to be a statement about the hijacking by any side of the aisle of the beautiful agenda of a movement of our nation’s youth came off seeming like a mean-spirited and personal attack and slight of the youth themselves.”

Hughes added, “I wanna be clear, I never intended for that to happen. I was not attempting to impugn the youth of America and this beautiful thing that they accomplished. I truly am sorry, I did not mean to hurt anyone or cause any harm.”

However, Hughes said Saturday, “As someone who’s watched their friends shot in front of their eyes and seen people killed that they love, I should have handled this a lot more maturely and responsibly, and I did not do that and I messed up. And I hope that you’re able to forgive me but please know that I did not mean to do what it seems like it was I was doing.”